Bondalti Water, the Iberian leader in wastewater treatment, sees the demanding challenges and requirements of the new Spanish Royal Decree (RD 1085/2024) on water reuse, recently published, as a new window of opportunity to strengthen the offer of integrated solutions to a wide range of activities linked to the industrial sector, especially the agri-food sector.
Aligned with EU requirements, through the incorporation and transposition of European Regulation 2020/741, the new regulation includes reinforced measures regarding the use of regenerated water in this industrial sector, with a view to increasing the safety of its use for people and animals, environmental protection and circularity.
By promoting a reduction in the use of drinking water to the detriment of high-quality regenerated water, the document aims to reduce the pressure on water resources, supporting adaptation to climate change and contributing to the fulfilment of sustainability goals, namely the European Green Deal, as well as the protection of the public water domain in Spain.
The new regulations also centralise essential information, making it easier for all players in the sector to comply and follow up, as well as assigning clear responsibilities to each player in the Water Cycle, from production to final consumption, which encourages more orderly and efficient management.
“For Bondalti Water, this legislative framework that has now come into force opens up new possibilities for applying our know-how and technological capacity in the field of water reuse, ensuring proper use and control by incorporating appropriate water regeneration systems into the different phases of industrial production”, says administrator Antonio Alonso.
In an industrial context, the company offers water treatment and reuse solutions for cooling towers, boilers, cleaning installations or other needs, using the best available technologies, such as MBR (membrane bioreactor) systems, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis or chemical dosing.
MBR technology, in which Bondalti Water is the European leader and has more than twenty years of experience, is a distinctive factor in water purification in an industrial context, an area of strong focus in the new regulations. This technology is a central element of the Multi-AD project, an innovative system that is already in operation on an industrial scale at Bodegas AGE in Spain, capable of reducing contamination in wastewater by more than 90 per cent, as well as generating many other benefits, particularly in terms of reducing energy costs.
This is just one of several areas and technologies that make up Bondalti Water's wide range of solutions for the Integrated Water Cycle, intending to promote sustainability and operational efficiency for operators in different sectors and ensure better management of this essential resource. The company has accompanied and led developments in the field of wastewater treatment and the reuse of water after recovery treatment, innovating and investing in increasingly reliable technologies.
And what does the new Royal Decree bring?
The Royal Decree 1085/2024 now published opens up a new range of possibilities for reusing water with appropriate recovery techniques at different stages of production, within the industrial units themselves.
One of the main changes introduced compared to the previous legislation (RD 1620/2007) is to allow regenerated water in production sites and lines to come into contact with food, as long as the water quality category A+ is achieved, which was not possible under the previous regulations. To obtain this classification, the reclaimed water must be conveyed through a separate network and be properly sterilised.
MBR technology, which is part of the largest of Bondalti Water's installations, is already a physical barrier for complying with the most restrictive regulations in the DR in terms of E.Coli, turbidity, suspended solids and nematode eggs. When combined with other components such as disinfection, activated carbon and/or reverse osmosis - the latter to reduce salinity - it achieves A+ water quality.
In the agri-food industry, this regenerated reclaimed water cannot come from uses other than the food industry itself (from the urban water cycle, for example). In addition, the reclaimed water must always be subjected to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).
The regulation also introduces a seal of transparency in water management, awarded to the company or legal entity that fulfils the objectives of transparency of information and good water management within the scope of its activity. In addition to these commitments, the new seal can also bring benefits such as the use of the logo in advertising activities, its display at public events or even to facilitate obtaining subsidies.
The new legislation also creates the Water Management Observatory, whose mission is to supervise and analyse the use of regenerated water throughout Spain.
This body will be responsible for collecting data, evaluating practices and issuing reports that guarantee transparency and continuous improvement in the management of regenerated water resources. As part of this Observatory, a platform will also be created to exchange good practices and facilitate access to up-to-date information on water reuse.
